Exploring the Beauty of Medellín and Guatape, Colombia

Colombia is a beautiful and diverse country in so many ways.  We arrived in Medellín late at night, but it was easy to feel how much this part of Colombia was built into the mountains.  The airport was just over 7,000 ft above sea level and our hotel in Medellin was just under 5,000 ft.  They say that this part of the country has eternal Spring.  The temperatures are cool at night and comfortable during the day.  We experienced rain at night, but so far all of our days have been perfect weather.  

We’ve spent the majority of our time in Colombia in Guatape, which is a 2 hour bus ride from Medellin.  It is known for its colorful buildings, reservoirs, and El Penon (a huge rock in the countryside you can climb to the top).  We realized that this town is much more of a tourist destination, with the majority of tourists taking one day guided trips from Medellin. Buses start showing up around 11:00 and they leave by 5:00. It has been nice to be able to explore earlier in the day and later at night when the streets are filled with locals.

We spent most days in Guatape walking around, exploring different parts of the city.  A few things have stood out to me in Guatape.  First is a strong sense of family that is easily recognized amongst the locals.  Kids play just like any kid in other countries.  They seem to be a very happy and welcoming town.  We feel extremely safe and comfortable walking around any time of day.  The second thing noticeable everywhere is the geography.  Guatape is surrounded by man made waterways that were formed back in 1970 when they built large dams to block water that ran off the mountains.  This created a reservoir and the dams were able to generate hydro-electricity.  Large cities were flooded and still remain underwater.  Today, Guatape is a combination of mountains and man made reservoirs that are stunning.

This morning we were lucky enough to be in town for a celebration they have each year called “Antioquia Day.”  Kids had off school and the town square was FILLED with local families.  There were tents set up all around the square selling traditional food, drinks, and other treats.  Kids performed dance routines on stage and a DJ played music all morning long.  It was such a privilege to be able to experience this event alongside local families.  Everyone was dressed in white shirts and white dresses with colorful ribbons sewn into their fabric.  We had no idea this holiday was happening today.  So lucky!!

We will write another post in a few days highlighting El Penon, the food, and our other adventures.  Until next time!!